UPDATED DEC 2, 2020 - This is a copy of the DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION COMMUNITY of PRACTICE (DEI CoP) – DURHAM REGION’s Commitment Statement issued by the committee on Tue, Oct 20, 2020, at 9:01 AM in response to the disturbing news on school yearbooks emanating out of Pickering, ON. in which a black student’s yearbook tribute to his grandmother was replaced with a racist slur. (READ MORE on CBC)

Lake Ridge Community Support is a proud member of our local Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Community of Practice and felt it important to share our commitment with our clients, and our community. We’re represented on he DEI CoP by our Human Resources Administrator, Janice Capes.

Our Commitment Statement serves as a reminder and a robust call to action to continue both individually and collectively, our rigorous efforts to combat oppression, racism, anti-Black racism and discrimination.

Our purpose is to actively promote and support member organizations in the promotion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles through informed practice to remove the barriers of systemic, cultural and direct oppression.

• The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent (resolution 68/237) citing the need to strengthen national, regional and international cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent, and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society.

• As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

• In proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

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OUR COMMITMENT TO COMBAT OPPRESSION, RACISM, ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND  DISCRIMINATION 

We continue to bear witness to the ongoing injustice that has led to the deep sorrow and lament of the Black  communities at the local, provincial, national and international levels. The sustained state of systemic anti-Black  racism is historic. For generations, it has created an environment that has enabled widespread oppression, economic  scarcity, over-representation in the child welfare and justice systems, health and education barriers, and loss of life.  

The DEI CoP member organizations stand committed to the promotion of equity, inclusion, respect and justice as  fundamental values embraced by each of our organizations, to reflect our social responsibility to the individuals and  communities we serve and with whom we work. 

It is our mission to act as advocates and allies for community peace, truth and restorative practice. The DEI-CoP  knows that being aware of racism, oppression and discrimination is not enough. 

In our Black families, clients, friends, colleagues and within the Black communities, we see the results and impact of  the hurt and harm of racism, oppression and discrimination.  

Also, in our Indigenous families, clients, friends, colleagues and the Indigenous communities, we see the results  and impacts of racism, oppression and discrimination, including over-representation in the child welfare and justice  systems. In our People of Colour families, clients, friends, colleagues and their communities, we too see the results  and impacts of the hurt and harm of racism, oppression and discrimination. 

We will no longer be silent. We call on the Durham community at large to join us. 

We commit to take action by sitting in discomfort to have those tough, respectful, open, honest and healthy  conversations about racism and doing all that we can to address oppressive and discriminatory practices, policies,  beliefs and attitudes within ourselves and within our communities.  

We recognize that we can individually and collectively make positive change and that the responsibility is on all of  us to educate ourselves, take action and send a resounding message of NO MORE!  

We have at this time in history a window to take action, to do better, to be better, now and for the future. So, join us,  stand with us and share the burden that our Black families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and communities have  been carrying alone for far too long. 

Endorsed by the following Members of the  

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Community of Practice – Durham Region

MEMBERS OF DURHAM DEI-CoP ENDORSING THE COMMITMENT STATEMENT

• Boys and Girls

• Club of Durham 

• Carea Community Health Centre 

• Catholic Family Services of Durham 

• Community Development Council of Durham 

• Community Justice Alternatives of Durham Region 

• Durham Children’s Aid Society 

• Durham Rape Crisis Centre 

• Durham Family Court Clinic 

• Durham Regional Police Service 

• Frontenac Youth Services 

• John Howard Society of Durham 

• Lake Ridge Community Support Services 

• Murray McKinnon Foundation 

• Region of Durham – Diversity and Immigration Program 

• Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region (R.F.E.C.Y.)

RESOURCE LIST COMPILED BY THE DEI COP  

Links: 

“Programme of Activities for the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African  Descent” 

Recommended Videos/Articles: 

White Fragility: How 'white fragility' reinforces racism 

The Talk: Procter & Gamble: The Talk 

Discover any bias: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/selectatest.html 

National Equity Project (2019) Don't talk about Implicit Bias without talking about Structural Racism.  Don’t Talk about Implicit Bias Without Talking about Structural Racism 

Unpack your invisible knapsack: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Peggy McIntosh Racial Equity Tools: https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf 

Recommended Books: 

Cole, D. (2020) The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power 

Diangelo, R. (2018) White Fragility: Why it's so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism Jivani, J. (2019) Why Young Men Rage: Race and the Crisis of Identity 

Jualla van Oudenhoven, Rona (2015) Violence against Children, A Rights-Based Discourse Kendi, I (2019) How to be an Anti-Racist 

Saad, L. (2020). Me & White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good  Ancestor.